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Beginner's Guides for Switching to Linux?
(lemmy.ml)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).
Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.
Community icon by Alpár-Etele Méder, licensed under CC BY 3.0
Technical differences:
Fedora uses RPM for package format, and is made to work with the latest versions of software, so it's almost a rolling release, and receives VERY constant updates (but it's still solid). The only other release model is the SilverBlue/Kinoite which is all about having an immutable base system and managing your applications through Flatpak.
Debian OTOH uses the DEB package format, and comes in 3 update models:
Project differences:
Fedora is on paper "community driven" but it's actually backed and steered on by RedHat. There's also a current proposal about implementing telemetry (turned on by default).
Debian is entirely community-made and driven, with no big corporation being its owner and/or main sponsor, and it has a stronger focus on FOSS. It's about as old as RedHat (both have their origins in the early 90s), so you can bet they'll both be around basically forever.
Edit: both are great distros, mature, stable and easy to use. Fedora was previously my most beloved, but my relationship with it soured over RedHat's leadership decisions. Don't let my current salt take away from the review :')
Thanks!
You're welcome, hope you enjoy your new Linux, whichever you choose ✨